Biotech/AI: Germany launches first challenge on the development of AI-steered microbial consortia

Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) and the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND) launched their first joint challenge, "Engineering Microbial Consortia", on 1 October 2026. They are looking for teams that combine AI and microorganisms to biologically convert waste and residues into chemicals and materials, or to develop entirely new materials that remain in the loop.

The goal is to move industrial biotech from single optimised strains, which need pure and uniform feedstocks, to communities of microorganisms sharing production steps. These are more robust, tolerate fluctuating inputs and can help break down complex waste such as old tyres, textiles or building materials, but are hard to control.

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